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Canon SL2 vs Nikon D3100

Portability
71
Imaging
68
Features
85
Overall
74
Canon EOS Rebel SL2 front
 
Nikon D3100 front
Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56

Canon SL2 vs Nikon D3100 Key Specs

Canon SL2
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 453g - 122 x 93 x 70mm
  • Released June 2017
  • Additionally referred to as EOS 200D / Kiss X9
  • Succeeded the Canon 100D
  • Newer Model is Canon SL3
Nikon D3100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 124 x 96 x 75mm
  • Announced December 2010
  • Replaced the Nikon D3000
  • Newer Model is Nikon D3200
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Canon SL2 vs Nikon D3100 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Canon SL2 and Nikon D3100, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the SL2 (24MP) and D3100 (14MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The SL2 was brought out 6 years later than the D3100 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the SL2 scores versus the D3100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SL2 over the Nikon D3100

 SL2 D3100 
AnnouncedJune 2017December 2010More recent by 80 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon D3100 over the Canon SL2

 D3100 SL2 

Common features in the Canon SL2 and Nikon D3100

 SL2 D3100 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements

Canon SL2 vs Nikon D3100 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SL2 has got external measurements of 122mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs) whilst the Nikon D3100 has proportions of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs).

Compare the Canon SL2 and Nikon D3100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SL2 versus the D3100.

Canon SL2 vs Nikon D3100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SL2 and D3100 is 71 and 68 respectively.

Canon SL2 vs Nikon D3100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SL2 vs Nikon D3100 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading through specs. The visual underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SL2 and D3100.

All in all, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Canon SL2 to give greater detail having its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more modern SL2 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SL2 vs Nikon D3100 sensor size comparison

Canon SL2 vs Nikon D3100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SL2 vs Nikon D3100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SL2 Portrait photography info
Nikon D3100 Portrait photography info
80
manual focus
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
72
manual focus
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SL2
Street photography with Nikon D3100
74
screen articulates
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
58
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon SL2 Sports photography highlights
Nikon D3100 Sports photography highlights
69
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
60
decent MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon SL2 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D3100 as a Travel photography camera
82
better than average battery life (650 shots)
supports bluetooth
offers touch focus
MP count decent (24MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
58
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SL2 Landscape photography factors
Nikon D3100 Landscape photography factors
78
manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
no image stabilization
65
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SL2 Vlogging features
Nikon D3100 Vlogging features
75
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic port
no image stabilization
27
provides face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone support
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Canon SL2 vs Nikon D3100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SL2 and Nikon D3100
 Canon EOS Rebel SL2Nikon D3100
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS Rebel SL2 Nikon D3100
Otherwise known as EOS 200D / Kiss X9 -
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2017-06-29 2010-12-21
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 7 Expeed 2
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.1 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 355.7mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4608 x 3072
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Max enhanced ISO 51200 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 11
Cross focus points 1 1
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Available lenses 326 309
Crop factor 1.6 1.6
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.54x 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.80 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes - Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 60 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 453g (1.00 lb) 505g (1.11 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 67
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 13.4 11.3
DXO Low light score 1041 919
Other
Battery life 650 images 550 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E17 EN-EL14
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $699 $565